New Possibilities of Mesothelioma Treatment

Mesothelioma is a relatively rare cancer, but the outcome of the cancer is not favorable. The treatment options (generally surgical, radiotherapy and chemotherapy options are available for treatment of mesothelioma) that are available at present are not satisfactory.

At NCI (National Cancer Institute) there are certain modalities of treatment procedures are being studied. Several clinical trials (research studies involving people with mesothelioma and normal people without mesothelioma) are being done to find out the best available treatment option for mesothelioma. The clinical trials are for finding out the best ways to use among presently available treatment options and also to try to find out new treatment modalities.

Read more...

How Mesothelioma is Treated

Treatment of mesothelioma depends on many factors. These factors are mainly of patient related, like the stage of mesothelioma, the location of the mesothelioma cancer, general health status of the patient and also the age of the patient. In general like any other cancer mesothelioma has three options of treatment, which may be used alone or in combination one two or more options together. The standard treatment options of mesothelioma are surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

Read more...

How Mesothelioma is diagnosed?

Diagnosis of mesothelioma may pose a problem due to the similarity of the symptoms and signs with many other medical conditions, especially those of respiratory diseases. But sometimes the diagnosis can be predicted based on careful assessment of clinical and radiological findings (if accurate diagnosis is not possible, a good guess can be made).

Read more...

Risk Factors of Mesothelioma

The incidence of mesothelioma: Mesothelioma is a relatively rare cancer, although there is an increase incidence of mesothelioma in the last 20 years, but still a rare disease. Approximately 2,000 new cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed every year in the United States. Mesothelioma occurs more commonly in men than in women. The risk of mesothelioma increases with age, but this disease can appear in either at any age, as well as 30-40 years of exposure to risk factors.

Read more...

Who are at Risk of Developing Mesothelioma?

The only major risk factor of development of Mesothelioma cancer is the exposure to asbestos, which may be chronic occupational exposure or accidental chronic exposure (e.g. living in houses made of asbestos roof shingles). Since 19th century asbestos is mined and used commercially till date. The use of asbestos was greater during II World War. The use of asbestos was much more before discovery of asbestos as the only major cause of mesothelioma.

Read more...

Symptoms and Signs of Mesothelioma

Symptoms and Signs of Mesothelioma can vary according to the location of mesothelioma like mesothelioma of pleura (Pleural mesothelioma) can cause shortness of breath, cough, and pain in the chest due to an accumulation of fluid in the pleural space (known as pleural effusion). Pleural mesothelioma can also cause weight loss, cachexia (extreme weight loss seen in cancer patients) pain in the chest wall, fatigue, wheezing, hoarseness, hemoptysis (blood in the sputum). In severe cases of Pleural mesothelioma there may be collapse of lungs, pneumo-thorax etc.

Read more...

What is Mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma is a primary malignant (cancerous) tumor of mesothelial cells and the commonest site of mesothelioma is the lungs or pleura. But sometimes mesothelioma may also occur though rarely in peritoneum (it is the lining of abdominal cavity), pericardium (outer covering of the heart) or tunica vaginalis. Mesothelial cells line pleural cavity of the lungs, so it is common in the lungs. Pleura is the covering of the lungs. Mesothelial cells also line other body’s internal organs (but mesothelioma occurs rarely).

Read more...

About the Blog

The blog deals in all aspects of mesothelioma (causes of mesothelioma, management of mesothelioma, diagnosis of mesothelioma, prevention of mesothelioma, and risk factors that are associated with it). It provides latest information about mesothelioma.

The main aim of this blog is to spread awareness about mesothelioma. The blog tries to prevent mesothelioma by spreading awareness about it. If a single person can get benefit from the information that is given here about mesothelioma, the admin will think it as success of the blog.